Straightline

smart has been on the market overseas for 10 years now ,so I think it's more than a flash in the pan, everyone has a small car in the wings waiting to see how smart is going to do.

A flash in the pan.....
First mistake: Daimler giving distribution to , I believe Pensky, who will sell this car to highway dealers. Already they have made standard features into options and padded the price. Not to mention the premium they will charge for the false demand they created. None of the presold customers are locked into a price. A loaded cabriolet will top 20K! I believe at least 1/3 of them will walk when they see the prices.
 
Second mistake: 2 year bumper to bumper warantee. Need I say more..............It's just not a smart thing to do.
 
Third mistake: Micro cars are supposed to be inexpensive, functional commuters. The Smart is more or as expensive, and certainly less functional than the Yaris, Fit , or Rio/Accent. AND it does not perform like a Mini.
 
America will get bored quickly of this "Toy" by next Christmas.

In all honesty, I've yet to see too much of a reason to shop in a range below the current compact cars (Civic, Corolla, etc.). No matter how good the Fit, Versa, et. all are, they are rarely more fuel efficient than there larger brethren (the 07 Fit and Civic, for example, rated at 30 city 38 highway and 30 city 40 highway, respectively). Yes, there is the price advantage and ease of maneuvering that comes with a smaller car, but I've never felt that my Mazda3 was a boat in traffic.
 
The Smart makes a lot of sense in Europe, where everything is a lot closer together and more people live in old, densely populated cities where space is at a premium. America does not have that, and a lot of the major cities (like New York and Boston) have effective public transportation. As such, with size being a factor for only a small number of U.S. buyers, I see a low price and the novelty factor as being the driving force for a subcompact car. The Smart doesn't have the former and the latter will wear off when the car becomes more commonplace and people realize its shortcomings.
 
Now don't get me wrong, I like the idea of cars like this, but until I can get 50 miles to the gallon on the highway with a sub 9 second zero to sixty time and not feel as if I'm sitting in a Toys R Us surplus plastic bin, I'll stick with my Mazda3. Manufacturers have yet to provide me with a compelling small car package, and a lot of it has to do with safety I think (too many big trucks to crush the little cars), and the high costs and compromises that come with trying to make a small object take the impact of a much larger one.

I agree, what the heck is the point of this car? This car only makes sense in small European cities if anywhere. I dont see why anyone would get something so small and so slow when they could easily get a much better used car for the same price.

I'm guessing they will be a huge hit with certain people. They are cool to look at, fun to drive (as long as you realize it's not a sports car) and very practical as a second car.
 
Here in Canada, we got the diesel version a few years ago and they get far better mileage then Civic's and Corolla's. They only expected to sell a couple thousand but sold over 10K.
 
You can't compare it to a Yaris or Rio. They make no statement about you other then to say your cheap. Trust me, the Smart will be considered seriously cool amoung those who will buy them.

I agree with jr1m90. I think that is an excellent analysis. Its fuel economy really isn't that much better than the sub-compacts already out there, which in turn don' have much better fuel economy than the compacts out there, as noted. There are just some things that don't translate well between Europe and the U.S. This will probably be mainly a fashion statement, and statements wear thin quickly.

Agreed. Besides, in congested ubran areas you can probably get 3 to a parking space, if backed in with the nose sticking out. It should fun to see the owners arguing to see who pays for the parking space. :)

You guys talk as if the US had no urban areas. I can't see the appeal for suburbanites, but its parking advantages alone will bring in some city slickers.

USA has no such parking spots. People here think bigger is better.
 
Sure, it'll have some initial success with the "different" crowd that wants to stand out, but it the Smart has failed and lost money in Europe, what is going to make it succeed in the Bigger is Better US of A?
 
Novelty will wear off after a year or so, I bet.

it depends, how many hollywood people making millions will drive this?
 
just like the pirus. I saw an oldder one, that looking more toyota corrolla like, and was like hmmm, thats normal looking, why didn't anyone buy that.
 
ohhh, becasue it doesn't SCREAM hybrid, thats why. i'd rather own a civic hybrid then a pirus, because one doesn't scream hybrid.
 
But some people care about the green image.

I'm hoping it will be the start of a new wave of practical fun cars...
 
Here's another I would like to see...
 
http://www.canadiandriver.com/ctc/blog/?p=160

I think it's more novelty than functional. And, as many have mentioned, Americans don't go for small.

Ive actually seen one of these in Lexington, Ky. Its yellow and has been around for about 2 years now so it would have to be an older version. The same guy owns a dark green Lotus Elise.